Washing machine



Sept' 16, 1952 G. c. GRAHAM 2,610,497

WASHING MACHINE original Filed Nov. so, 1939 2 s1-1EETs-v-SHEET 1 1N V EN TOR.

@fd/mf 6 GRAHAM Sept. 16, 1952 alc. GRAHAM WASHING MACHINE original Filed Nov. 3o, 1959 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. G50/wf C GRA HA M BY Patented Sept. i6,

No. 306,797; Divided and this application r` MarchaisiaseriarNo. 65.1;438-

Myinvention relates to lwashing' machines or e devices, Aexemplified herein as applied forvfhouse Y hold laundry purposes, and. particularly to lini-- provements in methods of, and me'ans for, circulating fluids. andconducting' them between sta- 5 tionary and movablerelements of the machinar Y l This application ;i S a division fof my copending applicationL f or .Washing Machines,- Serial No. 30.6,'79'7,y filed November v30, 1939, nou/ Patent No.Y 2,407,569 1 Y '.10 VIii @ences of thistcharater .hertfore-f1sug; eested-,imay V.f'f'ic=to r.s. narecnferedirito the prob.-y lem: of, rendering them.s'iinp1a..eff estive, economi.- cal and more desirable over a wide field vof use,^v among'. which are such .elements as. the' pa'tu.- 15 lar .mannermi cleaningand. rinsing the clothes,- the;..rstructure .for 1eadine-ic0nduitmeans from av` stationary `loase orjhousing into anoscillating'tulc on thebase erin the ho u s '1ng, the means for conducting 'operating iiuidto a clothes drying device 20.

initheftub, and other` features which must be properlyjcombined and operated together to produce amachinethatis eflicient, easy to u se, andA free from trouble f; .V

Amonsthe ,objects Qfiheinventonare to'prof .25 Vide novel circulation of- Water, and noveljmovement of clothes, in al washing machine, whereby to effect better interchange ofi/position of Y the y Water and -clo t lf1e s,'y as between thebottom and *top of a tub, to ensure effective cleaning. Othergohjects of the invention are to provide a topgconstruction fon a Washing-machineof the upright tub type, that-is novel in the provisionfv 0f a. fluid conduit .Structure fOIlffediig; Wafer Il'tO, Y the .top of the tub, and such structure invvhi'cn35 the conduioris'iiuies Substantially a'hngeib-' tween thetubld andahpusine for the tub.. Anotherobiectf, ih einventon S` t0 'po'v'id novel arrangement-for supplyingiiuid for operati ingv a diaphragmwithin a/movable tub, as by pro-40 viding a conduit between the tub and a stationary" base. or housineon Orrin. which the tub is dSD'Sd wherebyto reduce the over'f-allheight 'and size of the machine, and-to avoid undue iiexure of the' conduit tending to Aweaken its Connections. u With'such objects in vieu/',- asl 'Well as`other'ad--' vanta'ges'whic'h may`V be incident to a 'utilization of the improvements,` individually or in combination,` bthe. invention' comprises the elements, steps and` oombinationsthereof herein'set'forthfand 59 claimed, Withtheunderstanding' that the several. necessary elements constituting thev same maybe Varied in proportion, 'arrangement and texture, withoutfdepartingVfrom'thesprit and scope of thefinve'ntionas intendedjand as set forth in the 55. drawings, V spcic'aton `and claims.'r f

iaolaiins. (cr'esgszi) n 30 mechanism enclosed in a casing 4| supportedb In .order rto render the .invention-more rclea'rl understood, steps are described, andfmeansares. shownin the accompanying drawings'for carrying the invention into practical effect, without 'limit-f ingt'he improvements toA the particular elements d Vshown and described,-.which for the purpose of explanation, re made the subject of illustration. W

Fig, l is a-view, partially in elevation any rpar vtially in substantially centralvertical plane see f tionf O f a v.Washing .machine-.911- a particular type construciedin accordancewiih .the invention; and.

Rllferrnefparticularly.t0 Fie....1, the example 0f the 'machine therein illustrated comprises a lowry' base 26', 'anupper stationary housing 2Ior 1 .t1f1e -A base 26, an oscillatory tub 28 disposed generally in the housing 21, bu-tjhaving a special topor lid construction 3l extending above the `-housing,' agitatingmeans 83 having baiiies 32 at the bottom j ofthe tulo,v and Vbailies 34jnear the top ofthetube for agitating the yclothes and Water in the tuhgdur if ingwashing, flushing, and rinsing actions, a diaphragm-33 in the tub forj eiecting fl ushingand drying actions by expansionofthe diaphragimiau valve 3 6- under thetub for admitting) uidbehind; the diaphragm and in vpart controlling operatic of the diaphragm 33,a tub oscillatingmeanso thehase 2 6 under the housing 21, shock-absorb-r ingsuspensionmeans 42ffor thecasing 4 I: ass ciatedvtherewith, and an automaticcontrolmech ranism (IlOtyshown). 'mountedon one'sidel ofthe; housingZ'l. The base'structure 26, h as legsl, at :leasttw of whchiare suitablel in location and construction:r for cooperation withthe :shock absorbing suspend. sion means 42- The legs 5 lareljoin'ed at the 'lolweizv j; ends, as by tie rods 53,v and/suitably s1`1p1'Jort','at.-i'Vv` the tops, a metalor. other; disc'or platez5 6',pre erably; hy means'V (not.` shown) "f for? detachabl mounting the legs in position. Casters 54 of th swivel typer are providedion the'legsL` :1.7.:

The .plate '516 is .surmo'unte'd' by aA shell' or rig l 5l of thin pressed sheet'rnetal havingafperipheralli top iiange 58 forv attachment tothe housing 21,? f anda 4peripheral bottom' Iflange' El held' tothelsl L Plate'f.' l.' f y f Y TheihousingZ'I encloses the tub 28, and 'otherl parts, and receives Wash and rinse'fwaterejctedJ-f i 3 having an upper peripheral flange 68 to which is secured an upper thin sheet metal cylindrical member 1|. At its upper end, the cylinder 1| is provided with an annular thin sheet metal shell or cap 12 havinganoifset perimeter 13 se- 5 cured tothe top.-.periphery of the cylinder 1|.Y The remainder 'of vthe cap 12 is of substantially half round section, forming a relatively large, upwardly convex bead or toroid, having a relatively small radially inwardly extending.,flangeiplo 11 about the upper part of the tub 28 and in closely spaced relation theretd'bushing 181 is provided in an opening in theshell 12forfa purpose to be hereinafter set forth. d

The tub 28 is of the oscillating type for op,;-15;

eration about a vertical axis, 'relative-.to whichi.. its sheet metal body 19 is of somewhat elongated globe shape having a clothes receiving opening at its top, and being shaped at its upper and`4 lower portions for the reception of, and coop- 20 erationwith; baille elements of agitator means Whiohwill be latervdescribed.

Ifhe'ftub'has-a portion 8| pressed upwardly` atfthe'tub-bottom. A disc-like metal-mounting elerrientj82is provided outside the tub bottom,` an'dthe agitator, 83, having a disc-like base |34,v is provided inside the tub bottom, these elements also extending about the portion 8|, and conforming to 'and 4being secured tothetube, as by The bottom mounting 82 has a recess VV:lor'theV reception ofthe upper endof a drive shaft 81" whiohisfoperatively connected to the mounting 82, this connection being indicatedv by a pin 88.45 The-lowery portion of the tub also has an 35* aperture in which is secured a bushing 89'in whichis received the valve 36, for controlling the diaphragm movements.

At about its vertical central portion the tub 28-iis'provided with a peripheral channelor beadY 92-,"o`pen at the vinner side of the tub and constituting part of means for attaching theV diaphragm 33 to the tub, as also will further appear. The top of the tubrhas secured thereto a metal castingrse, of cylindricalor ring-likefcharacter, havingadepending tapered flange 91conformingyatF-itsouter surface, to the inner surfacev ofthe sheet metal'body 19of the tub, and having ts-inner: surfac'ergradually merging and: curving into'the 'curved inner surface of thej sheet metal 50 body-whereby to preserve'the gradually rounded inner` top contour of the tub. The neekpor` tion ofthe casting 96A has an outwardly pro'- u jecting peripheral flange |02, in which is a topgroove |03. A plurality of peripherally spaced"A ductsor outlet ports A| 06 extenddiagonally down-- War'dlyn` and: outwardlythrough thev 'casting96 fromthe .groove |034to the exterior of the tub, for vallowing water from the.Y tub to drain-into the,l housing 21 through the radially 'narrow 60 peripheral space between the flange-11, von the shellf12,"and the upper-part of the sheet metal tub.iV

The lid 3| comprises a plate constructed Y of sheetmetal pressedztozinverted shallow sub'-, 65

.and ,thence through the ducts 2,610,497 iii? '1t r-"i 1 |03 and at their upper ends with the screen openings.

The screen |33 has radial top grooves or corrugations |35 which when the clothes mass is pressed against, the screenby the diaphragm, formr gutters or. channels foribetter draining off the water outwardly throughthe space between `thering |32 and plate downwardly through the ducts |34 into the top annular groove |03, |06, into the housing 21, as above mentioned. Before the Yclothes are` tightly pressed against the screen,

the-ntiain bulklof the wash or rinse water being displaced by the diaphragm flows freely out- .,Wardly ,.through.. various parts of the screen, irrespective; .of. the."4 .grooves |35 into the ducts 34vv and outwardlyfrom the tub as stated. It

, shouldbemoted that while the drawings show the duets |06 and |34 substantially in register, this is l not essential, the groove V|03 with its ducts |06 being; of sufiicient' 4car'zacity toI carry off the water aririttedf4 t the groove bythe ducts v|34V irrespective ofV their locations along the groove; v

`The fue al is removamy, heid-l uponthe 1mb by aclamping ring-10i channelse'ction whichf riphery, and provided with operating means-forl peripheralxpansion of the clamping ring to release the lidforbpening, and for peripheral contraction ofthering 'forVV locking the lidinl closed position( attached thereto, on which is a grooved ferrule |31; A cap-like member |33 has a swivel'or rotative water sealed connection tothe nipple,

'- being provided with a spring clip |43 ttingf inthe groove of the ferrule and the innerend ofwhich removably.V extendsvthrough` an opening' in thel cap. The ,capv |3|3'is connected, by a nipple-14| in the` bottom wall'- of the housing. Water is supplied'to-the conduit |40 from an inlet connection` |42, y secured` to rthe `bottom `disc 56, througha hose or conduitlM, which extends throughan opening V|45 -in`the shellv51, toa, valve of an autoriia'ticA controlVv mechanism (not shown), and fromthe valve through a hose or conduit |49-, extendingthroughan opening |50- in the shell 51, tothe nipplelM,` to which the conduit |40 is connected.- A source'of heated water'may be connected to theinlet"|42i A section' |5| of the flexible armored conduit |40 acts somewhat as'afhinge,` or flexible me chanieal connector, between the .housing 21 and the lid 3 tod preventcom-plete separationof the I lid'from thetub when thelid is'open; and tov hold the ,lid inconvenient 'positionfor'closing the tub. Also, the section `|5|yof theccon'rduitl40,

may move Aback and Aforth..through'thebushing' f 18 ftoY avoid ,buckling4 of thefconduit VVandto better f control the action of opening and closing the tub. Furthermore, the flexible kconnection tothe water f inlet f allows for reeiprocationV of 'the tubf withoutV damageto the Lfluid connection.

Although agitation or 'stirring of -theclotheal 'and waterV may .be obtained, byV agitatingv:means.` operating relative f Vto-a stationary tub,., in`t h.e... by

At" the Ytop outside center 'of the lidv 3|,V an: aperture therein is'fsurrounded byI a nipple Y 3S' `example'here given; itlisf'obtained by .bafliesflxed to the oscillating tub,.1`whereby fthef water and clothes are ,given a special tumbling actionrfdur.- ing washing, indicated. somewhat .ib'y arrows D; andduring: rinsing, isl combined with-:ton aug- .mented by, .the action of fresh incoming waterin the direction of an arrow E, shownat the topof Fig. 1. Either or bothsetsof bafllesi32 and34 may be employed. .I i

' lThe upper-baffles k3ft :are herein-shownV asinte-y gral parts offthet'op metalcasting-.96,A although they maybe separately attached thereto, or -to the tub, or constitute parts ofthe tub-body, and may be varied in number, two being shown, located at opposite sides ofthev tub. Theyl are of n-'likecharacter -rounded at the inner thinner edges .|56,'and each having a tapered side |51, merging gradually into the inner surface of.. the tubv body, whilefthe opposite side |58 ofeach baieis straight, presenting a flat, radially extending side. A`The fiat'sides of .the baffles 3d face in' thesame direction'with respect to the direction of tub oscillation, for a purpose to be referred tolater. The edges `|56 slope @downwardlyand inwardly from the casting 66,.sub stantially as chords of the cross sectional arc of the tubbody 79, tol a position closek to the mid channelr 92, where they are suddenly sloped into the tub surface. The broad sides of the bafes extend in a general radial directionto the tub axis at any horizontal section, but longitudinally, they slope relative tothe vertical atan angle vof about twenty-five degrees.

Thelower baiiles. 32, constituting parts of the agitator 83, are mounted on the disc-like base 84, from the center of which theyv extend radially. At the upper edge, the bafes are rounded, and the sidesrdivergingly tapered laterally tothe base. In vertical plane. outlineV the lbaffles are each of generally curved or rounded contour conforming somewhat to the lower recess of the tub, and having outer enlarged portions |63. These'baffles, in relation to such recess and to the globular rising sides of the outer portio-ns of the tub,v cause the water and clothes mass to be impelledradially outwardly and upwardly alongv the sides of the tub, which mass, if uninterrupted, would immediately move downwardly in the center of the tub, round and round. However, at the top, the clothes encounter the kagitation produced bythe upper baffles 34, y'which will break up thecycle produced bythe lower agitatorvand keepthe. clothes Well spread out, the Vover-all agitation being a combination o-f actions. y The baffles 34, by the lengths and the angular disposition thereof, tend to and do lift .the clothes alongthe baffles, and turn the clothes over, and are of greatest radial depthmidway of the length thereof, so that, as the tub oscillates onv its vertical axis,l the greatest force exerted upon the clothes is radially inwardly along and opposite lment is augmented by the fresh rinse water entering, the tub, in the direction Vof .the arrow .At thesame time, the vfreslivv'ater `is introduced and fmixed in definite and symmetrical mannen ensuring its diffusion to allparts ofzthelclothes mass, and avoiding rinsing more ...at one vpart than at another.. l gsi-T3 Y In f addition to .the describedv actions f of. .the upper,bafrles 34, they .perform a furtherV func.- tion in augmentingthe thorough. cleansing action on .the entire clothes mass. .Since the tub oscillates onA a vertical axis, and the bailles have fiat sides facing .inthe samedirection, asthese sides move forwardly, they Vengage the clothes .mass and move it part .wayaroundthe tub circurn, ferentiallyto occupy a different positionwith respect. tothe `main forces exerted 1 by the lower baffles. As these baffles move in .the ,reverseldirece tion.the.c1othes mass slideso'ff the slantingfaces thereof.A 'L The 'nexta' forward motion Lof. thefilat sides of. the baiiiesengages-a different .portion offfthe clothes mass, Vand -thus thelclothesr vare movedaround the vertical. axis with a.:stepb`y step .-motion, 'in addition to' all the othercmovementsimparted thereto. f. c E The; tub isoscillated by suitable mechanism, one -form of which isshown inmy copendingan plication,such mechanism being enclosed infthe easing 4| and operatively connected -.to .the shaft 81. Y

. Bo1ts 288 secure laterallyextending .plates-.2,615

to the casing 4| at radially opposite-parts 'there'- of.1 The plates 29| are connected to leaf ysprings 292,2 of the shock absorber devices 42, which-.in

turn', .are secured to two'v of the legs 5|` of. the machine. Near vthe ends of its strokes, the oscillating structure.' has its ymotion damped by .the

yieldability of the springs 2921in a direction. cir-'- cumferentiall-y of the-drive shaft, '-the springs being rigid in the up and downdirection. ,L y VThe diaphragm 33 hereof is made ofhigh grade durable soft rubber, or other materiallhaving sufficient weight, body or thicknesstobe firm and positive `in action, and sufficiently flexible to ensure its ready response to expansion andl contraction, as well as its ready conformation to the clothes mass whereby toinsure'uniformeffec` tive V'pressure thereon.VV It Avalso is inolded?v or formed-such that, in its contracted orrelaxed state,"it conforms closelyt'o -the 4shape of theftub,` and alsoto the baies'32,land 'toi other partsvof the lower agitator. Y 1 1 The diaphragmr'is somewhat semi-spherical or cup-like in shape, conforming, in general, to the inner lower sides of thetub 28, and having an upper edge peripheral bead |61. An expansion ring I'r'l engages Vtheulllpei' peripheral partfof the diaphragm, just under thebe'ad |61, pressing the same into the channel L92 formed in the tub Vside wallithis ring having' sufficient expansive force to hold the diaphragm'securely in place,`the arrangementv also providing a water tight'seal between the diaphragm'and tub; i' At its bottom, the diaphragm is fur'therfpro-.` vided with portions |68 of inverted l'substavnfially channel section: closely conforming to, and/ifirelaxed condition fitting over thebaffles 32. VDuring expansion, the diaphragm lifts off the bottom of the tub, rising from, the baffles and, since it vdoes not turn relative to the tubreturns easily and accurately to position fitting the bailies. 0 yl The ow of water, to and from the space -be' tween the diaphragm 33 and thebottom ofthe tub, to expand andy contract the diaphragm, is controlled by the diaphragmgvalve 36. `Water under pressure .is admitted by `the `valve V36,1 through the bushing 8.9, under or behind the diaphragm-,1 .tof-push: orf-experrdfrthe diaphragm l upwardly invtheflE tub.

.As -thc .clothesare"compressedf betweena'the diaphragm and the screen |33,.the"washor rinse water'escapes-fromfthetop of thetub, as abovedescribed.: Near the' end of the` compressing or .dry in@ operation,- the pressurebehind thel diaphragm bxilds 'up to that of thev incoming iluid.- When the Waterspply. has`A been stopped by therefore-Q said automatica'control mechanism,T 'a-bleeder valve of. the valvev 36 allows-the waterfpressure'in the valve'casing;v t'o. drop gradually; 'After av cera tain arr-muntv of bleeding: duringv which the" water pressure .drops suiiciently in a few seconds-,-valve 36`V opensvto the full open positionv to allow the outflowA 'off 'Water 'from'. 'behind the diaphragm', which action is'aided. by thef'contraction of fthe diaphragm 33;V "The :watenows into the bottom ofthe housing '21,y lfrom:which it drains lthrough the drain pipe 62;l I The" Water `pressureY applied behind the diaphragm` during expansion vof lthe latter being substantially uniform,v theT pressure developed in-tl'iev drying operationsarefreadlly calculablel,4 softhat the valve: 3 (il may be Aproperly adjusted to effect 'the desiredA draining; y quickly.

the*` clothes; that. is' to say', thereto of.` bleeding.

oanfbe adjusted to-determinethelengthY of time before the valve 36 opens: to dumpthe-water trom behind the diaphragmand; therefore; there Vmay be a period of sustained higher' pressures` during the dryingoperation.

AThe water supply to the valve 361s from an inlet pipe 21 secured to the disc-56 by af clip 212, throughA a conduit 2 I 6;A which. extends through'. an opening 2 il in thefshell 5l, to aI valve offth'efcontrol mechanism.. From vthe latter valve; "the Water- :is conducted through a conduit t8 i? which extendsthrough an opening -l82- into the shell 51; theV conduit |81I then extending upwardly through anipple 226"inthe bottom-wall ofthe housing 2J; It is iormed into a flat spiral section 221 (Figt 2) of. about two turns-surrounding'the drive shaft 871; before 4continuing tothe `valve` 36. The turns of the spiral are of relatively `large diameter and adapted to radially-contract and expand sothat the tub mayoscillate without-adversely l affecting thefluid connections V by reason of theV relative movement betweenthe/tub .ear-i r-ied vvalve 36 and thev stationary nipple 226W Arranging the conduit section 22T in. a nat spiral coil",v alsoY allows thebottom` ofvv the tub to the spaced from. the bottom. otl the housi'ngby a minimum distance, whereby to conservefspace-at a. place where such conservation is off importance in a selection of height for the housing. The. conduit section 221 maybe arranged otherwise', such asA to bend on a substantial radius or radii. to effect' substantially equivalent results.

Special provisions are-` made to'finsu're compiete draining' of the water from behind thediaphragrri S3;- and to insureagainst accidentalv and premeturecm'sing of the 'opening to the diaphragm valve. To this endg the lower-face of thebase sa of the'loweragitator has; an annui" groovei zu, having a peripheral portion'. The-head. otthe mounting bushing 8'9 lfor. the? diaphragm-valve 36 is received in the' groove 228;- r`The. base Minas' apertures 23ttherethroughv communicating with thegroove 228,; and the" peripheral portion 229 also yhas apertures 232.' communicating .withlfthe dlaphra'lgniyfit passes'throu'ghl 'the apertures v234 yand 232 tosta't the'diaphragmexpansion. f When Vthe Vwater fislbeingiexpelledffronr belowv the' 'dia'- phra'gnn-it drains?throughtheuaperturesf 232` and '234:V intothe 'groovev 228y and from the latter through the'fvalve A36vto thev tub housing 21 but withoutfrdanger ofthe diaphragm .fouling the opening.' .into the diaphragmfvalve 36.

At the beginning of the operation of the ma chine; the. operator'places the dry'clothes in" the t'ub'. The machine is lnext filled Awith water and soap, washing powder or'water softener added, after whichithe lid' 3 lr is locked. in'` place.

Ther dri-ve mechanism is yenergized to oscillate the-tub to produce-.agitation ici-the clothes-'and water At the-end vof a'selected washingtime period, th'eff'autornatic`- control mechanism lmay operate to fadmitwater behindthe diaphragmr33, through the valve .36,` to'beginu a ushing opera tonpfinl 'which the diaphragm lifts the .clothes and-Wash Watertowfard `the top of the machine so' that thetwashwateris gradually forced Vout throughthe-drain openingsv i734, in the lid, and theio'penin'g m6, in the-tub. Thus,l any scum andY matter'which has accumulated ontop of. the water i's-.flushed out yof the: machine. At .this time, *the` agitation of. theeA machine .has not stormed',y so that' the accumulated' matter alsois Iibera'tedffrom the clothes to float off. with the water. Inilation of the diaphragm may' continuefuntil: substantiallyv all of the wash Water -has `been extracted fromthe clothes at which time the valve SSoperate's to empty the water from behind the diaphragm,-v and the Vdiaphragnfi returns toits lower positionlshown.

' Bythis-time'the control mechanism operates to admit' Water tol the upper part of the tub, Aas through the centerof thelid to beginl therinsing operation. When suiicient water has been ad mitted to thetub to'make agitation ofv the clothes and water of so-me'benet, which is about one* thirdof the time consumed by the rinsing. opera'- tion,agita-tionY isI ive-started. Agitation continues during the remainder of the rinsing operation, and-for a suiiicientlength of time for the tub to completely fill with. water and `also to overflow through the-iducts |34 and Illl 'for a sufficient interval to' thoroughly rinse the clothes. At the conclusion'ofthe rinsing operation; the control mechanism Vagain opens the diaphragm water valveto again expand the diaphragm to ejectV the-rinse' water',fwhich is the beginning of the drying operation. Agt'ationiis continuedfurither until 'the diaphragm is above the centerof the tub; and preferably during about half of the periodk of time for this particular operation' of the diaphragm.V The'expansion ofA the diaphragm continues to"brirr'g' about drying of the clothes by" compressing the-same against the upper portions of the'tuloY and its cover, until all of the Water iseXtracted from'the clothes whereupon the supply of water behind the diaphragm is shut oi. Thenythe action of the diaphragm valve' 36 Willfagainoperate to dump the water from be'- hind the diaphragm. as explained above.

Other modifications may be madeV in the ar rangement and location off-parts within the spirit and scope of'my invention, and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim t 1. .Ina'washirrg machine, a tub' `support a 'tub ziiound on said support for oscillation relative thereto'about a vertical axis, a top lid mounted on the tub for oscillationtherewlth and for movement relative thereto for opening and closing the tub, and water conduitk means including'a conduit element xed to said lid and a flexible conduit element connected to said support and acting substantially as a hinge between said support and the lid, saidiiexible conduit also being connected in relatively movable sealed relation to said rst conduit. I

Y2. In a clothes washing machine, the combination of a stationary base having a conduit mounting, an oscillating tub mounted on said base. and having@ port, fluid operated .meenam thetub for-receiving fluid from said portj-for pressing the clothes to extract water therefrom, anda conduit for transmitting fluid between the exterior Iofqthe tub and said pressing :means I having portions mounted relative to said base and relative to said tub in communication with said port, respectively, said conduit including- .portions wound about the axis of oscillation of the tub in a coil of such diameter as to render flexing of the conduit next to said port and said base substantially negligible.

3. In a clothes washing machine, the combination of a stationary base having a conduit mounting, an oscillating tub mounted on said base and having a port, fluid operated means in the tub for receiving uid from said port for pressing the clothes to extract Water therefrom, and a conduit for transmitting uid between the exterior of the tub and said pressing means and having portions respectively connected to said base mounting and to said tub in communication with said port, said conduit including intermediate portions wound about the axis of oscillation of the tub in a substantially flat Spiral normal to said axis.

4. In a washing machine, the combination of a stationary housing having a top opening and upper and lower conduit receiving apertures, a tub mounted in said housing for oscillation about an upright axis and having a top cover opening aligned with said top housing opening, and ilexible water conduit means extending through said lower aperture, upwardly in the housing between the housing and the tub, through said upper aperture, and being connected to an upper portion of the tub for the admission of water into the tub above said housing.

5. In a washing machine, the combination Vof stationary supporting means, tub means mounted on said supporting means for oscillating move-v ment relative thereto, and means for supplying water to said tub and including conduit mounting means on said supporting means, conduit receiving means carried by said tub means for oscillation therewith, and conduit means extending between said mounting means and said receiving means and having an.intermediate portion arranged in the form of a spiral to permit said oscillation.

6. In a washing machine, the combination of stationary supporting means, tub` means mounted on said supporting means for oscillating movement relative thereto, a plurality oi conduit mounting means on said supporting means, a plurality of conduit receiving means carried by said tub means for oscillation therewith, flexible conduit means extending between each of said mounting means and said receiving means and permitting said oscillation, and fluid supply means connected to said conduit mounting means. f

7. In a washing machine, the combination of stationarysupporting means, tub means mountedand fluid supply means connected to said conduit mounting means. J 8. In a washing machine,the combinationofstationary supporting'means, tub means mounted on said supporting means for oscillating movement relative thereto, a plurality of conduit mounting means on said supporting means, a corresponding plurality of :conduitvgreceiving means carried by said tub means for oscillation therewith, conduit means extending from each of said mounting means to a corresponding receiving means and permitting said oscillation, and fluid sup-ply means connected to said conduit mounting.

9. In a washing machine, the combination of stationary supporting means, tub` means mounted on said supporting means for oscillating movement relative thereto, conduit mounting means on said supportingA means, conduit receiving means carried by said tub radially onset from said conduit mounting means relative to the axis of oscillation, conduit means extending between said mounting means and said receiving means and permitting said oscillation, second conduit mounting means on said supporting means, second conduit receiving means carried by said tub offset from said second mounting means along said axis, conduit means extending between said second mounting means and said second receiving means, and uid supply means connected to said conduit mounting means.

10. In a washing machine, a housing, a tub mountedtherein, separate agitating means in the upper and lower parts of the tub for agitating clothes and water in the tub, a fluid means for operating said agitating means, operated diaphragm mounted upon the tub and arranged to compress the clothes in the tub to extract water therefrom, means for supplying water to the tub so as to direct the water downwardly into said tub, and means connected to the tub for A supplying water behind the diaphragm to cause the same to compress the clothes and also to remove the water from behind the diaphragm after the compressing operation.

11. In a washing machine, a housing, a tub mounted for oscillation therein, separate agitating means in the upper and lower parts of the tub for agitating clothes and water in the tub, a fluid operated diaphragm mounted upon the tub and arranged to compress the clothes in the tub to extract water therefrom, means connected to the tub for supplying water to the tub so as to direct the water downwardly into said tub, means connected to the tub for supplying water behind the diaphragm to cause the same to compress the clothes, and ilexible connections to each of said water supply means arranged to permit the oscillations of said tub.

12. In a washing machine, a support, a tub mounted on said support, means for oscillating the tub, a flexible diaphragm mounted in the tub, and means for supplying water to the interior of said tub, said latter means including stationary conduit elements connected to and communicating with'the interior of the tub above and below :Y m; diaphragm and .separate iflexble vconduits connectedtoseach .offsaid statonaryoondui-ts and also no'sa'id fsu-pport, ,said Aconduits extending spiatally between :said pointsof ,connection :a Washing machine, .a support, -a 'tub 5 mmmtn'deon Said support, means. for oscillating the ztub astatonary iconduit .connected :to aand comrnunzl'oatirig` with :the l:interior :of the tub, a condtt .connected to 'the -frst :mentioned vnon, duit, and a swivel connection between sadlron-A 10 dutsfproviiing for said oscillation.

REFERENCES-CITED,

Ther'fllowing refereneffs are of record nthe 15 Number 'UNITEDJSTAEFES SPAEIENTSL f `Name Date 'Palmer Apr. 28,1914 Russell Deo. 13, 1921 Lombard Apr; 4, '1922 Robe July 28, 1925 Woodrow June 25, 1929 Smith Dec. 3, 1929 Geldhof Feb. '18,V 1930 Lombard Feb. 25,1930 Barker July 1, 1930 Haubens etal Oct. 11,1932 'Ducker July-31, 1934 Emmer-ling Apr. 14, 1936 Soderho'lmL JuneG, 17939 Chamberlin Jan. "23, 1940 'Bassett Dec. 17,1940 

